Linda Wigzell Cress's blog

V S NAIPAUL.

So today we learned of the passing of prize winning novelist V S Naipaul. When reading all the inevitable eulogies, spare a thought for his late wife Pat, whom he used and abused for many years. In a Telegraph article he even admits his cruel treatment of her may have hastened her early death. Pat Naipaul was a talented historian, and my History teacher in the 1960s at Haberdashers Askes Hatcham Girls School. At a school reunion a month ago, we...

LAST TRAM HOME and BLESS YOU BEE

Yesterday was a very emotional day. In the morning OH and I attended a full Civic ceremony of remembrance for the seven local people killed in the tram crash a year ago on 9.11.16. Our very own nine-eleven. Children from the primary school my kids attended and my grandson still attends led the singing, for the youngest victim, Dane Chinnery, was a former pupil and often a soloist himself. Dignitaries such as the MP, councillors, Croiydon Mayor,...

WE SHALL NOT SEE THEIR LIKE AGAIN

On Monday I had the honour and pleasure of having lunch alongside a party of veterans, smart in their blazers and wearing various regimental badges and insignia of the British Legion. One was in the red coat of a Chelsea pensioner. All were in their eighties at the very least, and some were already centenarians. Men of all services were represented, and some wore medals too, including VCs and Military Medals and Crosses. Imagine the tales they...

ADVENT

Strictly speaking, Advent began this year on Sunday 27 th November 2016. For us however, it really began on the previous Friday 25th November, when me and OH set off to the Civil Service Club in London for the Old Gits Christmas lunch. Nowadays I do my best to avoid travelling into town most of the time, as my shortness of stature tends to make getting on and off trains very difficult and dangerous, as the array of footwear to be found on the...

ALL ABOARD THE TRAM

There are an awful lot of people in my home town who have been traumatised by the recent Croydon tram disaster. Not just the families and friends of the 7 killed (5 out of the 7 from New Addington); not just the families and friends of the 50 plus whose injuries were treated in hospital, some of whom had limbs amputated and whose lives will be changed forever; not just the other passengers on that early morning tram, nor the Croydon residents...

TRAM TO NOWHERE

This is not the Blog I intended to write when I arrived home on Tuesday 8th November 2016. It was going to be a lighthearted review of nice couple of days at the seaside, following up the London to Brighton veteran car race, then a ‘Sensational'60s' concert with some big names from that great musical era. But when I had almost finished my piece, something awful happened, and my blog seemed frivolous and inappropriate. I Iive in the town of New...

WATCH YOUR GRAMMAR

I believe that the abolition of Grammar Schools in the 60s was the most regressive step in the history of education in this country. It resulted in the levelling down of education in general, and ensured that the old Public School system of election and promotion in politics, banking, media, Civil Service, business etc. would continue for generations to come. In all walks of life we see people ruling over us whose only qualification for office...

CLIFFAGE - MOVE IT!

It has come to my attention this week via the Official Fan Club that it was 58 years since Cliff released his first hit single Move It!, on 29 th August 1958. It rose to number 2 in the charts, sadly pipped at the post by the Kalin Twins’ rendition of an undeniably catchy little ditty ‘When’, which is still occasionally given air time, although their name has more or less been forgotten, whereas Cliff’s fame and popularity appears to be...

FROGGAGE

What a night! First on washing hands after late post-cricket dinner we find hot water coming out of bathroom sink cold tap as well as hot tap. Take advice, use all water facilities then turn off immersion heater at fuse box as can't get to airing cupboard where it is due to using room for Xmas decs, deceased parents’ effects and any other homeless lumber you can think of. Oh joy! Find plumbing insurance doc but surprise doesn’t seem to cover the...

FRIENDSHIP

When I hear people say ‘my husband/wife/partner is my best friend’, I don’t know whether to be envious and reassess my own life, sympathise, or just vomit. For though my husband and I love each other and have done for over 40 years, I would not call him my Best Friend. We enjoy some of the same things, have some friends in common and agree on many things – but disagree on many more. We respect and admire each other and love our large extended...

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